Porter Hodge Injury Update: Will the Cubs pitcher return in time for today's Reds encounter

The Chicago Cubs’ bullpen has taken a significant hit as right-handed pitcher Porter Hodge has officially been ruled out of today’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. The team placed Hodge on the 15-day injured list following a strained left oblique, leaving fans wondering when the emerging closer might return to the mound.

Porter Hodge's absence confirmed for Reds matchup

While the Cubs have been tight-lipped about a definitive timeline, manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Hodge will not feature in the crucial matchup against the Reds.

“The way [Hodge has] reported it has sounded very similar to Ian’s situation,” Counsell noted, referencing outfielder Ian Happ’s recent oblique injury. “But Ian’s situation resolved itself maybe four days or five days after we put him on the injured list. So we’ll see how the next week goes and how the weekend goes in Cincinnati, then have a better idea.”

Hodge first experienced discomfort in his oblique last Friday. Despite pitching a scoreless inning against the White Sox on Saturday, the strain worsened.

“It kind of inflamed,” Porter Hodge explained. “And after that, [it] didn’t really go away but got better.”

The Chicago Cubs’ closer conundrum

Hodge’s absence leaves a glaring hole in the Cubs’ bullpen, especially as he had emerged as the go-to option in save situations after veteran Ryan Pressly was reassigned to earlier innings. While Porter Hodge’s season ERA sits at 5.12, the number doesn’t reflect his recent performance. He’s allowed multiple runs in only two of his 21 outings, with a 2.79 ERA across his last 11 appearances — nine of which were scoreless.

To bolster the bullpen, the Chicago Cubs have recalled reliever Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa. Counsell acknowledged the strain this puts on his rotation, saying,

“Frankly, the next couple of days, we’re a little tired in the bullpen, so availability is going to be an issue. And that means that the guys that are available are going to be thrust in some different spots.”

Recovery outlook and long-term implications

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy also revealed that Hodge has been dealing with tightness in his hip, which could be impacting his fastball command.

“Being able to spend some time to focus on [fastball command] while we’re ramping him back up is going to be a really positive thing,” Hottovy stated.

While the team remains hopeful that Porter Hodge’s injury is not severe, his short-term unavailability — including today's absence against the Reds — is now certain. As the Chicago Cubs continue their series in Cincinnati, all eyes will be on how the bullpen reshuffles under pressure.